The water footprint tells us how much water is used, but the impact of changes to a water footprint depends entirely on where water is taken from and when. A water footprint increasing in an area where water is plentiful is unlikely to have an adverse effect on society or the environment. However, if that growth occurs in an area already experiencing water scarcity, then serious problems could result.
Such water problems might include:
the drying of rivers
the destruction of habitats and livelihoods
the extinction of species
changes to agricultural prices, supplies and local economies.